PBM tools help cut seniors' prescription drug costsThanks to tools used by pharmacy benefit managers, consumers and public programs are spending less on drug coverage, says Charles Coté, assistant vice president for strategic communications with PCMA. The standard deductible consumers pay for Medicare Part D will drop by about 4.6% next year to $310, and co-payments will fall as well thanks to historically low drug spending. Industry officials credited increased generics utilization with some of the savings. NJ.com (Hackensack, N.J.)/Bloomberg
(2/18)

Registration is now open for PCMA's Specialty Pharmacy Business Forum!The SPBF provides individuals and companies in the specialty pharmacy chain of commerce with exceptional educational and business networking opportunities. A unique aspect of the conference is "PCMA-Connect," an online networking community that will give attendees the opportunity to search for, connect, and coordinate meetings with existing and potential business customers and partners.

Deadline passes with 26 federal exchanges, 7 partnershipsThe health insurance exchange landscape is taking shape, with the deadline for states to commit to their approach passing on Friday. Twenty-six states defaulted to federally run exchanges, while seven opted for federal-state partnerships and 17 states plus the District of Columbia plan to run their own. States with federally run exchanges can still apply to take over management of their exchanges in 2015. The Washington Times
(2/16), The Washington Post/WonkBlog
(2/18)

Okla. committee to hear bill on PBM oversightOklahoma state Rep. David Derby, a Republican, was reportedly planning to introduce a bill in the House Public Health Committee today that would give the state pharmacy board authority to regulate pharmacy benefit managers. PBMs refute claims behind the move, saying they save consumers and public programs millions of dollars while protecting patient safety, and that members of state pharmacy boards have a conflict of interest. The Republic (Columbus, Ind.)/The Associated Press
(2/18)

PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune
500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D. PCMA is dedicated to enhancing the proven tools and techniques pioneered by PBMs that generate savings and access for consumers and payors.